PHOTO GALLERY: Winning gardens bloom despite dry times

For the first time in the Chinchilla Horticultural Society two-decade long competition, a garden not connected to town water supply has come out as reserve champion and nearly took out the grand champion title.

Only one point separated Mrs Corbett's and Ken and Alison Young's magnificent gardens.

Mrs Corbett took first place in both the permanent plant and the country garden category and second place in the front appearance section at the awards evening on Monday.

"I was quite surprised to come home with anything if I'm being honest,” Mrs Corbett said.

"I wasn't even going to enter the competition but two lovely members talked me into it one day when I was in town grabbing a coffee.”

This year's contest has had a bumper crop of competition, with 32 entrants across the 14 categories.

"This has been our biggest competition to date,” society president Lindsay Marsden said.

"Our judges were blown away with the efforts particularly with the awfully dry conditions everyone is facing right now.”

A wedding celebrant by day, Mrs Corbett said sharing her garden with the Western Downs had become the highlight of her profession and she said she is excited to open her garden up to public.

"I love having people come here to celebrate their special day. It's nice to have people appreciate all your work and passion.

This was Mrs Corbett's first time entering the gardening competition but the veteran green thumb said she swore by regular healthy lashings of fertiliser and mulch.

"If I'm really lucky sometimes I can even pinch a bit of my husband's hay.”

The garden is available to view throughout the week, bar Sunday mornings.